Redesigned MacBook Air model tipped to arrive with exciting new features

Despite the launch of Windows 8 later this year and the wave of ultra-thin Microsoft-powered notebook computers that will accompany the new operating system, Apple will continue to dominate the ultra-thin portable PC market through 2012 according to a new report. Digitimes Research, the analyst arm of industry watcher Digitimes, on Thursday issued a report suggesting Apple’s popular MacBook Air series of laptops accounted for 50% of global ultra-thin notebook shipments last quarter in spite of the continued ultrabook push across numerous PC vendors.

While the buzz surrounding Microsoft’s Windows 8 platform continues to grow, Digitimes Research still expects shipments of Apple’s MacBook Air to outnumber the combined shipments of all Windows-powered ultrabooks following the launch of Microsoft’s new OS.

“Apple’s ultra-thin MacBook series products (MacBook Air) already account for 50% of global notebook shipments that feature an ultra-thin design in the second quarter and Apple’s MacBook Air shipments in the fourth quarter are still expected to surpass the combined shipments of the non-Apple notebook brand vendors’ ultrabook and ultra-like notebook products,” Digitimes Research senior analyst Joanne Chien noted.